NSF Invests $77.8M to Boost Climate Resilience in 21 States

Today, the U.S. National Science Foundation announced a $77.8 million investment in 14 projects through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Spanning 50 institutions across 21 jurisdictions, this investment aims to build research and development capacity and strengthen STEM education opportunities in states that have traditionally received lower levels of funding.

"Every part of our nation has been impacted by the changing climate. We build a sustainable future for all by investing in climate resilience research and solutions across our country," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "By empowering researchers from different EPSCoR jurisdictions and enabling collaborations across diverse institutions from the Mountain West to the Gulf Coast, from the Southwest to the mid-Atlantic and New England and beyond, we are driving innovation that fosters STEM opportunities, economic growth and climate resilient communities."

The NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program awards will support interdisciplinary research teams working across jurisdictions to advance climate change research and build resilience in disproportionately affected communities nationwide. These teams, which include a diverse array of academic institutions and partners from government, industry and nonprofits, will leverage their collaborative efforts to develop climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, expand STEM opportunities and drive economic growth.

The awardees and summary of each project are listed below: 

• Empowering Community Resilience with Sustainable Energy and Water Reuse Systems, Louisiana Tech University - Using advances in nanomaterials and electrochemistry, this project intends to develop a mobile energy-water reuse system to provide safe and reliable water and energy supplies to disproportionately affected communities impacted by climate change. This project includes partnerships across Louisiana, Mississippi and Nevada.
• Equitable Nature-based Climate Solutions, University of New Hampshire, University of Louisville, University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island School of Design - Through community-driven hubs, this project utilizes a transdisciplinary approach to understand, design and implement socially equitable nature-based solutions for increased climate resilience. This project includes partnerships across New Hampshire, Kentucky and Rhode Island.
• Advancing Quality and Climate-Resilient Water Management with Community Partnerships and Enhanced Sensor Network, University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, New Mexico State University and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - Guided by Indigenous knowledge, this project aims to develop affordable water monitoring systems using advanced sensor networks to address water quantity and quality issues affecting underserved communities. This project includes partnerships across Vermont, New Mexico and South Dakota.
• Harnessing Controlled Environment Agriculture to Secure Sustainability and Economic Growth, University of New Mexico, University of South Dakota, University of Wyoming and New Mexico State University - This project aims to develop and assess modern controlled environment agricultural practices that will help tribal communities secure food production, develop a climate-smart workforce and stimulate economic growth. This project includes partnerships across New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming.
• Reversing Disproportionate Impacts of Hydroclimatic Extremes in Water-Rich Regions via Justice-Minded Research and Collaborative Adaptation Planning, University of Louisiana at Lafayette - This project will integrate hydroclimatic modeling and socioeconomic research to develop more equitable climate adaptation and resource allocation strategies for underserved and disadvantaged communities. This project includes partnerships across Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.
• Enhancing Indigenous Community Resilience to Climate Change Impacts through Partnerships and Co-Development of Adaptation Planning, University of Oklahoma and University of New Mexico - In collaboration with tribal organizations, this project aims to create sustainable research and education partnerships that integrate Indigenous knowledge and Western science to enhance the resilience of Indigenous communities against climate change. This project includes partnerships across Oklahoma and New Mexico.
• Advancing Climate Neutrality in Farming Communities through Upcycling Natural Fiber Reinforced Fireproof Vitrimer Composites, Southern University - This project aims to reduce dependence on oil-based synthetic materials by creating novel, high-performance materials from natural fibers and developing sustainable farming methods to grow high-value natural fibers in areas affected by climate change. This project includes partnerships across Louisiana, Delaware and South Carolina.
• The Flooding in Appalachian Streams and Headwaters Initiative: Mitigating impacts of climate change and flash flooding in Appalachia, University of Louisville, West Virginia University Eastern Kentucky University, Marshall University and University of Kentucky - This project will engage rural communities in interdisciplinary hydro-related research and technological development to gain basic knowledge of flash flooding, mitigate the impact of flash floods and improve community resilience to climate change. This project includes partnerships across Kentucky and West Virginia.
• Transforming wastes Into Economic Assets for Sustainability, Resilience, and Prosperity by a Novel Negative Emission Technology, University of Alabama, University of Idaho, University of New Mexico and Alabama A&M University - This project intends to use Negative Emission Technology to convert hazardous industrial wastes into low-cost, low-carbon construction materials, generating economically viable pathways to enhance the climate resilience of disadvantaged communities. This project includes partnerships across Alabama, Idaho and New Mexico.
• Data-Advanced Research and Education to improve weather intelligence and localized climate change assessment and resilience in agriculture-based communities, University of Iowa - Through research, educational and outreach activities, this project intends to establish and empower a citizen science network for weather monitoring to improve weather and climate prediction models, develop a STEM workforce and enhance the resilience of agriculture-based communities against climate change. This project includes partnerships across Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska and Iowa.
• Interdisciplinary Program of Advancing Climate Extreme Resilience in Soybean, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Mississippi State University and Louisiana State University - This project aims to develop sustainable and climate-smart agricultural solutions to soybean production impacted by extreme heat and drought events that can be applied to other important crops helping to mitigate global food security issues. This project includes partnerships across Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
• Intermountain Natural and Working Lands: Sustainable Practices for Ecosystems and Resilience Enhancement, University of Idaho and the University of Montana - In collaboration with tribal organizations, this project aims to develop novel climate-smart land management methods and strategies that incorporate Indigenous knowledge, build community climate resilience and expand economic and STEM workforce opportunities. This project includes partnerships across Idaho and Montana.
• Accelerating Community-Centric Energy Transformation through AI-driven Digital Twinning for Climate-Aware Resilience, New Mexico State University - This project intends to develop an artificial intelligence-driven digital twin framework that will improve energy efficiency, integrate renewable sources and optimize the energy infrastructure of underserved communities, fortifying their climate resilience. This project includes partnerships across New Mexico, Montana, Oklahoma and Alabama.
• Risks, Impacts, & Strategies for Coastal Communities: Advancing Convergent Science to Support Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience, University of Delaware, University of Rhode Island and College of Charleston - By developing climate research, education and workforce development infrastructure, this project will address compounding climate hazards affecting coastal communities, such as flooding and salinization, affecting coastal communities, while increasing scientific literacy and strengthening workforce diversity. This project includes partnerships across Delaware, Rhode Island and South Carolina.